Ice making machine and method

ABSTRACT

An ice barrier and an ice making machine having an ice barrier is provided in some embodiments, wherein the ice barrier is movable between a first orientation in which liquid water from an ice-forming surface is directed into the liquid receptacle, and a second orientation in which the ice barrier blocks access of ice from the ice-forming surface to locations in which ice is trapped between the ice barrier and an adjacent surface. Also, a method of producing ice in an ice making machine is provided in some embodiments, wherein a barrier diverts a flow of liquid water received from the ice-forming surface away from an ice collection bin, and wherein the barrier is moved to an orientation in which the barrier diverts ice toward the ice collection bin and also blocks access of ice to positions trapped between the barrier and an adjacent surface.

BACKGROUND

Many automated ice making machines have moving parts used to directwater and ice moving within the ice making machine. In many cases, thesemoving parts can become jammed by ice trapped by and/or within suchmoving parts. Resulting service calls for clearing jammed parts oftrapped ice lead to unnecessary expense and maintenance of ice makingmachines. Also, one or more sensors often used to control operation ofice making machines based upon the position of a movable ice makingmachine part can produce false signals or can fail to produce necessarysignals for proper machine operation. As a result, ice making machinescan produce too much ice, can stop producing ice prematurely, or canmalfunction in other manners. Clearly, in light of these and otherproblems and issues arising with respect to existing ice makingmachines, new ice making machines and methods would be welcome in theart.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments of the present invention provide an ice makingapparatus comprising an ice-forming surface with a plurality ofice-forming locations for forming ice cubes as liquid water is runacross the ice-forming surface; an ice collection bin positioned at alower elevation than the ice-forming surface; a liquid receptacle at alower elevation than the ice-forming surface and positioned to collectliquid water from the ice-forming surface; and an ice barrier adjacentthe liquid receptacle, the ice barrier movable between a firstorientation in which liquid water from the ice-forming surface isdirected into the liquid receptacle, and a second orientation in whichthe ice barrier blocks access of ice from the ice-forming surface tolocations in which the ice is trapped between the ice barrier and anadjacent surface.

In some embodiment, the present invention provides a barrier movablebetween a first orientation and a second orientation within an icemaking apparatus having an ice collection bin, the barrier comprising afirst surface for directing ice into the ice collection bin when thebarrier is in the first orientation, and for directing liquid water awayfrom the ice collection bin when the barrier is in the secondorientation; and a second surface positioned with respect to the firstsurface to block movement of ice produced by the ice making apparatusinto a trapped position between the barrier and another portion of theice making apparatus when the barrier is in the first orientation.

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a method of producingice in an ice making machine, the method comprising running liquid waterover an ice-forming surface; chilling the ice-forming surface to freezeat least a portion of the liquid water running over the ice-formingsurface; orienting a barrier in a first orientation; diverting a flow ofliquid water received from the ice-forming surface with the barrier awayfrom an ice collection bin in which ice produced by the ice makingmachine is collected; moving the barrier to a second orientation; anddirecting ice received from the ice-forming surface toward the icecollection bin with the barrier in the second orientation while alsoblocking access of ice to positions trapped between the barrier and anadjacent surface with the barrier in the second orientation.

Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration ofthe detailed description and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an ice making machine according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an evaporator assembly of the ice makingmachine of FIG. 1, shown with the ice barrier of the ice making machinein a first orientation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the evaporator assembly of FIG. 2, shownwith the ice barrier in a second orientation;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the ice barrier of FIGS. 1-3; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ice barrier of FIGS. 1-3, takenalong line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Before any embodiments of the present invention are explained in detail,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in itsapplication to the details of construction and the arrangement ofcomponents set forth in the following description or illustrated in thefollowing drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is tobe understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is forthe purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Theuse of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereofherein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalentsthereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limitedotherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled”and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct andindirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,“connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanicalconnections or couplings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An ice making machine 20 according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is shown in FIG. 1, and includes a pair of evaporatorassemblies 24, a water pump 28, a water sump 32, and an ice chute 36through which ice pieces 38 are discharged to a bin (not shown) forcollection and storage. Although the ice making machine 20 illustratedin FIG. 1 is adapted for forming unconnected pillow-shaped pieces ofice, it should be noted that the various aspects of the presentinvention can be applied to ice machines adapted to produce ice in anyother shape (e.g., cubes) formed in unconnected or connected assemblieson any type of ice forming surface (e.g., individual pockets or otherreceptacles, one or more troughs, a flat or substantially flat iceforming sheet, and the like). With reference again to the embodiment ofFIG. 1, each evaporator assembly 24 of the illustrated ice makingmachine 20 includes an ice-forming surface 40.

Each evaporator assembly 24 in the illustrated embodiment has a shield44 adjacent the ice-forming surface 40. Although not required, theshield 44 can be used to control the discharge of ice from theice-forming surface 40 during a harvesting cycle of the ice makingmachine 20. The ice-forming surface 40 and the shield 44 are orientedsubstantially vertically and are spaced a relatively small distanceapart, although it will be appreciated that the ice-forming surface 40and/or the shield 44 can be oriented in other manners while stillperforming their respective functions.

In some embodiments, a flexible curtain 46 can be attached to the shield44 and can extend from a bottom portion of the shield. For example, eachevaporator assembly 24 in the illustrated embodiment has a flexiblecurtain 46 attached to the shield 44. The flexible curtain 46 is angledor curved toward the ice-forming surface 40 in an at-rest state, but ispliable and easily deflected outwardly away from the ice-forming surface40 when contacted by ice pieces 38. In other embodiments, the flexiblecurtain can have other shapes also capable of being deflected whencontacted by ice falling from the ice-forming surface 40.

With continued reference to the illustrated embodiment, the shield 44 ofeach evaporator assembly 24 is supported by side panels 47 of theevaporator assembly 24 (see FIGS. 2 and 3). In particular, the shield 44has projections that mate with apertures in the side panels 47 of theevaporator assembly 24. The shield 44 can be removable without the useof tools, such as by lifting the shield 44 from its position shown inFIGS. 1-3. In other embodiments, the shield 44 can be removably attachedto the side panels 47 of each evaporator assembly in other manners, suchas by projections of the side panels 47 removably received withinapertures in the shield 44, by pin and aperture connections, by otherinter-engaging element connections, or in any other suitable manner.

An evaporator 48 is connected to each ice-forming surface 40 of theillustrated ice making machine 20 in order to chill the ice-formingsurfaces 40. The evaporators 48 are part of a refrigeration system,which circulates a refrigerant through a refrigeration cycle to chilleach ice-forming surface 40.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ice chute 36 is positioned between theevaporator assemblies 24 to receive ice pieces 38 therefrom. Oneevaporator assembly 24 is positioned adjacent the water pump 28 (near afirst end 51 of the ice making machine 20), and the other evaporatorassembly 24 is substantially remote from the water pump 28 (near asecond end 52 of the ice making machine 20). The water sump 32 includesportions adjacent the first and second ends 51 and 52 of the ice makingmachine 20 to receive water from the adjacent evaporator assemblies 24as described in further detail below. The water sump 32 extends aroundboth sides of the ice chute 36 such that the portion of the water sump32 adjacent the second end 52 of the ice making machine 20 is incommunication with the portion of the water sump 32 adjacent the firstend 51. The water pump 28 is in fluid communication with the water sump32 at the first end 51 of the ice making machine 20. In otherembodiments, water can be received within a water sump 32 having anyother shape and size desired, such as a pan located generally beneathone or more evaporator assemblies 24, one or more troughs positioned toreceive water from one or more evaporator assemblies 24, and the like.

Unless otherwise noted, the description of the evaporator assembly 24(and its components) herein applies to both evaporator assemblies 24,which are substantially identical in structure and operation in theillustrated embodiment. Any number of evaporator assemblies 24 can beprovided as part of the ice making machine 20, such as one, three, ormore evaporator assemblies 24. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a singleevaporator assembly 24 with the rest of the ice making machine 20omitted for clarity.

As shown in FIG. 1, an ice barrier 52 is positioned at the bottom of theevaporator assembly 24 along a boundary wall 54 separating the watersump 32 and the ice chute 36. The ice barrier 52 of the illustratedembodiment is positioned vertically above the water sump 32 and the icechute 36, but substantially below the ice-forming surface 40. The icebarrier 52 is rotatably mounted, and is movable about a pivot axis Abetween a first orientation (shown in FIG. 2) and a second orientation(shown in FIG. 3). In some embodiments, the ice barrier 52 is rotatablymounted to the evaporator assembly 24, while in others the ice barrier52 is also or instead rotatably mounted to other structure of the icemaking machine 20.

In the first orientation shown in FIG. 2, the ice barrier 52 allowsfluid communication between the ice-forming surface 40 and the watersump 32. Unfrozen water flowing from the ice forming surface 40 isdirected by the ice barrier 52 toward the water sump 32 in the firstorientation of the ice barrier 52. In the second orientation, the icebarrier 52 directs ice pieces 38 from the ice-forming surface 40 to theice chute 36 and substantially blocks off the path of ice to the watersump 32.

Shown in detail in FIGS. 4 and 5, the illustrated ice barrier 52includes first and second end portions 52A and 52B and a first portion52C extending between the first and second end portions 52A and 52B. Theice barrier 52 also includes a convoluted portion 52D and acounterweight portion 52E. The convoluted portion 52D meets thecounterweight portion 52E at a second portion 52F of the ice barrier 52.The convoluted portion 52D is formed to include a series of channels 56spaced apart by a series of ridges 60, and can be defined by aconvoluted or corrugated shape. The channels 56 are concave to collectand direct water along the ice barrier 52 (substantially perpendicularto the pivot axis A) and into the water sump 32 in the first orientationof the ice barrier 52 described above. Each ridge 60 is convex to directwater into the adjacent channel(s) 56. Water incident on the ice barrier52 when in the first orientation shown in FIG. 2 is directed toward thewater sump 32 along a series of defined flow paths (i.e., the channels56). Although the semi-circular or rounded channels 56 and ridges 60 ofthe convoluted portion 52D have been found to perform in a superiormanner in many cases, alternate profile shapes are considered, such as aV-shape for the channels 56 and/or ridges 60. In still otherembodiments, the first portion 52C of the ice barrier 52 can be providedwith ribs, bumps, or other protuberances, and/or grooves, holes, dimplesor other recesses for directing water into a series of defined flowpaths. Alternatively, the first portion 52C can be substantially flatwith no such features.

Referring still to FIGS. 4 and 5, the counterweight portion 52E of theice barrier 52 includes a counterweight 68. The counterweight 68 cantake any shape, and can be defined by a single element or multipleelements. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the counterweight68 is substantially cylindrical. The counterweight 68 in the illustratedembodiment is positioned within a receiving channel 70, which is coveredby a cover 72 secured to the open end of the receiving channel 70. Insome embodiments, the cover 72 retains the counterweight 68 and/or sealsoff the receiving channel 70 from water within the ice making machine20. In other embodiments, the counterweight 68 can be integrally formedwith the ice barrier 52 (e.g., molded or cast into the material of theice barrier 52), can be slidably received in an elongated aperture at anend 52A and/or 52B of the ice barrier 52, or can be attached to the icebarrier 52 in any other manner. The counterweight 68 has a position andweight, which act to bias the ice barrier 52 toward the firstorientation, but to allow the ice barrier 52 to be pivoted toward thesecond orientation when ice pieces 38 fall onto the first portion 52C.The biasing force (toward the first orientation) is affected by thematerial properties of the ice barrier 52 and the counterweight 68, thelocation of the counterweight 68 with respect to the pivot axis A, andthe shape and size of the ice barrier 52 relative to the pivot axis A.

Although a counterweight 68 is used in the illustrated embodiment tobias the ice barrier 52 toward the first orientation illustrated in FIG.2, other devices can be used to perform this function. For example, theice barrier 52 can be biased by one or more springs (including withoutlimitation torsion springs, coil spring, elastic bands, and the like),magnets, actuators (e.g., solenoids), drives connected to an axle at thepivot axis A or to suitable gearing connected to the ice barrier 52, andthe like.

The ice barrier 52 includes two pivot pins 64 (one at each of the endportions 52A and 52B) which are received into the side panels 47 of theevaporator assembly 24. Alternatively, pivot pins on the side panels 47or other portion of the ice making machine 20 can be received withinapertures in the ice barrier 52. In this manner, the ice barrier 52 iscapable of pivoting about the axis A.

With reference now to FIG. 4 of the illustrated embodiment, a magnet 76is carried with the ice barrier 52 at its first end portion 52A. Themagnet 76 is positioned on the ice barrier 52 so that it is in closeproximity to a switch 80 on the side panel 47 adjacent the first endportion 52A when the ice barrier 52 is in the first orientation (seeFIGS. 2 and 3). When the ice barrier 52 is pivoted substantially awayfrom the first orientation (i.e., toward the second orientation of FIG.3), the magnet 76 is substantially spaced apart from the switch 80. Theswitch 80 senses the presence/absence of the magnet 76, and controls theoperation (e.g., on or off mode) of the ice making machine 20 based atleast in part upon the orientation of the ice barrier 52. Generally, theice making machine 20 is on when the ice barrier 52 is in the firstorientation, and is turned off by the switch 80 when the ice barrier 52is in the second orientation. In some embodiments, the switch 80includes a Hall-effect sensor to detect the presence or absence of themagnet 76. The switch 80 in the illustrated embodiment is configured tointerrupt the ice-making ability of the ice making machine 20 bystopping the water flow over the ice-forming surface 40 (driven by thewater pump 28) and/or by stopping the refrigeration cycle that chillsthe ice-forming surface 40. For this purpose, the switch 80 may becoupled to a controller (not shown) in communication with the water pump28 and/or the refrigeration cycle.

Although a magnet and magnetic field-sensitive sensor are used to detectthe orientation of the ice barrier 52 in the illustrated embodiment, anyother type of position and orientation-detecting devices can instead beused as desired. By way of example only, the orientation of the icebarrier 52 can be detected by one or more optical sensors, mechanicaltrip switches, rotary encoders, and the like.

In operation, the ice making machine 20 produces ice pieces 38 byrunning water over the chilled ice-forming surface 40. Water is drawnfrom the water sump 32 to the top of the evaporator assembly 24 by thewater pump 28. The water is discharged onto the ice-forming surface 40from above. In other embodiments, water is supplied to the ice-formingsurface 40 in other manners, such as by one or more sprayers positionedto direct water spray on the ice-forming surface 40. In any case, watersupplied to the ice-forming surface 40 runs down the ice-forming surface40 by gravity. Some of the water incident on the ice-forming surface 40freezes before reaching the bottom. The remainder of the water incidenton the ice-forming surface 40 falls onto the first portion 52C of theice barrier 52, which directs the water toward the water sump 32 forrecirculation. Ice gradually builds up on the ice-forming surface 40,forming an array of ice pieces 38, which can be connected together in asheet or can be individually formed and separate from each other. Whenan ice-making cycle (starting with no ice on the ice-forming surface 40and ending with fully-formed ice pieces 38) is complete, the ice pieces38 are released from the ice-forming surface 40, from which they falltoward the ice barrier 52. The ice pieces 38 deflect the flexiblecurtain 46 away from the ice-forming surface 40 and fall onto the firstportion 52C of the ice barrier 52. The weight (and in some cases, alsothe falling force) of the ice pieces 38 causes the ice barrier 52 topivot about axis A toward the second orientation shown in FIG. 3,overcoming the bias of the counterweight portion 52E. Accordingly, thefirst portion 52C of the ice barrier 52 functions as a lever arm formoving the ice barrier 52 from the first orientation toward the secondorientation.

By movement of the ice barrier 52 out of the first orientation andtoward the second orientation, the ice pieces 38 are blocked fromentering the water sump 32, and instead are directed into the ice chute36. When the ice barrier 52 is in the second orientation, as shown inFIG. 3, the second portion 52F of the ice barrier 52 abuts theevaporator 48. The contact along the second portion 52F not onlyprevents ice pieces 38 from entering the water sump 32, but also closesa gap between the evaporator 48 and the ice barrier 52 to prevent icepieces 38 from becoming lodged therebetween.

The ice barrier 52 can remain in the second orientation while the icepieces 38 are discharged from the ice-forming surface 40. When thedischarge of ice pieces 38 from the ice-forming surface 40 is complete,the ice barrier 52 returns to the first orientation, the flexiblecurtain 46 returns to the at-rest position, and a new ice-making cyclecan be started. In some embodiments, the controller operates theevaporator assembly 24 in an “ice discharge mode” for a set amount oftime before starting a new ice-making cycle (provided that the icebarrier 52 is in the first orientation, as sensed by the switch 80). Theice discharge mode can include stopping the refrigeration cycle,reducing the chilling effect of the refrigeration cycle, and/orreversing the flow of refrigerant in the refrigeration cycle to providea heating effect to the evaporator 48 and the ice-forming surface 40.However, any suitable method resulting in discharge of the ice pieces 38from the ice-forming surface 40 is acceptable.

In some embodiments, when the storage bin below the ice chute 36 becomessufficiently full, the ice barrier 52 may not return to the firstorientation from the second orientation at the end of an ice dischargeevent due to the piling of ice pieces 38 atop the first portion 52D. Forexample, in the illustrated embodiment, the switch 80 remains open(signaling to the controller that the ice chute 36 is full), and asubsequent ice-making cycle is not started. This situation can occurwhen the rate of production by the ice making machine 20 exceeds theremoval of ice from the storage bin. Thus, the switch 80 serves toprevent overfilling of the storage bin based on the orientation of theice barrier 52.

With continued reference to the illustrated embodiment, after an icedischarge event is completed and/or when the ice chute 36 is emptiedsufficiently to release the ice barrier 52 from the second orientation(FIG. 3), the counterweight portion 52E returns the ice barrier 52 tothe first orientation (FIG. 2). In order to avoid the opportunity forone or more ice pieces to become jammed in a gap between the ice barrier52 and an adjacent surface (e.g., the adjacent evaporator assembly 24, aframe element of the ice making machine 20, or another adjacent part ofthe ice making machine 20), the ice barrier 52 is shaped to close thegap. In this context, jamming refers to a condition where one or moreice pieces 38 become lodged adjacent the ice barrier 52. If an ice piece38 is lodged between the ice barrier 52 and the adjacent structure, theswitch 80 in the illustrated embodiment continues to indicate “bin full”indefinitely, even as the ice chute 36 is emptied. However, based uponthe shape of the ice barrier 52 in the illustrated embodiment, thepotential for jamming is essentially eliminated.

More particularly, in some embodiments, the ice barrier 52 has twoportions 52C, 52F that extend radially from the axis of rotation A ofthe ice barrier 52. The two portions 52C, 52F can be contiguous as shownin FIGS. 4 and 5, or can be separated from one another by anotherelement or a gap. The first and second portions 52C, 52F of the icebarrier 52 are oriented with respect to one another such that when theice barrier 52 in the second orientation, the second portion 52F of theice barrier 52 abuts the evaporator 48 (or other adjacent structure) toprevent ice pieces 38 from being carried over into the water sump 32 orbecoming lodged between the ice barrier 52 and the evaporator 48 (orother adjacent structure). When the ice barrier 52 is in the firstorientation, a gap G is defined between the ice barrier 52 and theshield 44. Specifically, the gap G is a width of unoccupied spacebetween the convoluted portion 52D and a bottom edge 88 of the flexiblecurtain 46 along the entire first portion 52C of the ice barrier 52. Thegap G is at least as large as one of the ice pieces 38 (larger than itslargest dimension if not a true cube). Therefore, even when an ice piece38 is in a position to potentially jam the ice making machine 20 (e.g.,on the ice barrier 52 when the ice barrier 52 is moving from the secondorientation to the first orientation), the ice piece 38 cannot becomelodged between the ice barrier 52 and the adjacent structure. The icepiece 38 falls off into the ice chute 36 before the counterweightportion 52E moves the ice barrier 52 into the first orientation. The icepiece 38 does not interrupt the normal operation of the ice makingmachine 20 (as a lodged ice piece 38 could by inciting a false “binfull” signal from the switch 80).

In an alternate embodiment, the ice making machine 20 includes afull-length pivotable water curtain in place of the shield 44 andflexible curtain 46. The water curtain can be similar to that shown anddescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,993,929 and/or U.S. Pat. No. 6,907,744, butneed not necessarily have a contoured bottom edge to direct water intothe water sump 32 (as the ice barrier 52 is configured to receive thewater from the ice-forming surface 40). If used, the water curtain canbe configured to swing out away from the ice-forming surface 40 when icepieces 38 are discharged, allowing the ice pieces 38 to fall toward theice chute 36. Ice pieces 38 that fall on the ice barrier 52 can causerotation of the ice barrier 52 from the first orientation to the secondorientation.

In the second orientation, the second portion 52F of the ice barrier 52abuts the evaporator 48 (or adjacent structure) to prevent ice pieces 38from being carried over into the water sump 32 or becoming lodgedbetween the ice barrier 52 and the evaporator 48 (or adjacentstructure). In other embodiments, the second portion 32F need notnecessarily abut the evaporator 48 or other adjacent structure, and caninstead be located sufficiently close to the evaporator 48 or otheradjacent structure to prevent the ice pieces from entering into a jammedposition therebetween. When the ice barrier 52 is in the firstorientation, a gap is defined between the ice barrier 52 and the watercurtain. The gap is a width of unoccupied space between the convolutedportion 52D of the ice barrier 52 and a bottom edge of the water curtainalong the entire first portion 52C of the ice barrier 52. The gap is atleast as large as one of the ice pieces 38 (in its largest dimension ifnot a true cube). Therefore, even when an ice piece 38 is in a positionto potentially jam the ice making machine 20 (e.g., on the ice barrier52 when the ice barrier 52 is moving from the second orientation to thefirst orientation), the ice piece 38 cannot physically become lodgedbetween the ice barrier 52 and the adjacent structure. The ice piece 38falls off into the ice chute 36 before the ice barrier 52 reaches thefirst orientation. Thus, the normal operation of the ice making machine20 is not easily interrupted by an ice piece 38.

The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures arepresented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitationupon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, itwill be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that variouschanges in the elements and their configuration and arrangement arepossible without departing from the spirit and scope of the presentinvention as set forth in the appended claims. Various features andadvantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims. Forexample, although the ice making machine 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 isshown as having two evaporator assemblies 24, various aspects of thepresent invention disclosed herein can be utilized in ice makingmachines 20 have any other number of evaporator assemblies of the sameor different type.

1. An ice making apparatus comprising: an ice-forming surface with aplurality of ice-forming locations for forming ice as liquid water isrun across the ice-forming surface; an ice collection bin positioned ata lower elevation than the ice-forming surface; a liquid receptacle at alower elevation than the ice-forming surface and positioned to collectliquid water from the ice-forming surface; and an ice barrier adjacentthe liquid receptacle, the ice barrier movable between a firstorientation in which the ice barrier is configured to direct liquidwater from the ice-forming surface into the liquid receptacle, and asecond orientation in which the ice barrier is configured to direct iceinto the ice collection bin, wherein a portion of the ice barrier isspaced from an adjacent surface of the ice making apparatus in the firstorientation to define a gap therebetween, and wherein the gap betweenthe portion of the ice barrier and the adjacent surface is substantiallyclosed in the second orientation.
 2. The ice making apparatus of claim1, wherein in the second orientation, the ice barrier blocks access ofice from the ice forming surface to locations in which the ice canbecome lodged between the ice barrier and the liquid receptacle.
 3. Theice making apparatus of claim 1, wherein the ice barrier is pivotableabout an axis between the first and second orientations.
 4. The icemaking apparatus of claim 3, wherein the ice barrier has first andsecond portions extending in different directions radially from theaxis.
 5. The ice making apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first portionis a lever arm contacted by ice falling from the ice-forming surface topivot the ice barrier between the first and second orientations.
 6. Theice making apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second portion is a wallpositioned for directing liquid water from the ice-forming surfacetoward the receptacle in the first orientation of the ice barrier, andpositioned against the adjacent surface when the ice barrier is in thesecond orientation.
 7. The ice making apparatus of claim 1, wherein theliquid receptacle is at least partially defined by a liquid sump forrecirculation of the liquid water.
 8. The ice making apparatus of claim3, wherein: the ice barrier has a portion extending radially from theaxis and defining a lever arm acted upon by ice from the ice-formingsurface to pivot the ice barrier about the axis; and the portion directsice in a direction generally away from the liquid receptacle when theice barrier is in the second orientation.
 9. The ice making apparatus ofclaim 8, wherein the portion of the ice barrier has a convolutedsurface.
 10. A barrier movable between a first orientation and a secondorientation within an ice making apparatus having an ice collection bin,the barrier comprising: a first surface for directing liquid water awayfrom the ice collection bin when the barrier is in the firstorientation, and for directing ice into the ice collection bin when thebarrier is in the second orientation; and a second surface positionedwith respect to the first surface to block movement of ice produced bythe ice making apparatus from becoming lodged between the barrier andanother portion of the ice making apparatus when the barrier is in thesecond orientation, wherein the barrier defines an axis about which thebarrier is pivotable between the first and second orientations, thesecond surface extending generally upward from the axis when the barrieris in the second orientation.
 11. The barrier of claim 10, wherein thefirst and second surfaces are contiguous.
 12. The barrier of claim 10,wherein the second surface also directs liquid water away from the icecollection bin in the first orientation of the barrier.
 13. The barrierof claim 10, wherein the trapped position is between the barrier and anevaporator of the ice making apparatus.
 14. The barrier of claim 10,wherein: the barrier has first and second portions extending radiallyfrom the axis; and the first portion defines a lever acted upon byfalling ice produced by the ice making apparatus to pivot the barrierfrom the first orientation toward the second orientation.
 15. Thebarrier of claim 14, wherein the second surface is defined by a wall ofthe second portion extending radially away from the axis.
 16. Thebarrier of claim 10, wherein the first surface is defined by aconvoluted wall.
 17. A method of producing ice in an ice making machine,the method comprising: running liquid water over an ice-forming surface;chilling the ice-forming surface to freeze at least a portion of theliquid water running over the ice-forming surface; orienting a barrierin a first orientation; diverting a flow of liquid water received fromthe ice-forming surface with the barrier away from an ice collection binin which ice produced by the ice making machine is collected; moving thebarrier to a second orientation; deflecting the ice as the ice fallsfrom the ice-forming surface, with the barrier, away from theice-forming surface and toward the ice collection bin with the barrierin the second orientation; and blocking access of ice to positions inwhich the ice can become lodged between the barrier and an adjacentsurface, the blocking occurring with the barrier in the secondorientation.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein moving the barriercomprises pivoting the barrier about an axis.
 19. The method of claim17, wherein moving the barrier comprises moving the barrier with icefalling from the ice-forming surface.
 20. The method of claim 17,wherein diverting the flow of liquid water and deflecting the ice as theice falls from the ice-forming surface are performed by a common surfaceof the barrier.
 21. The method of claim 17, further comprisingrecirculating the liquid water diverted by the barrier back to theice-forming surface.
 22. An ice making apparatus comprising: anice-forming surface with a plurality of ice-forming locations forforming ice cubes as liquid water is run across the ice-forming surface;an ice collection bin positioned at a lower elevation than theice-forming surface; a liquid receptacle at a lower elevation than theice-forming surface and positioned to collect liquid water from theice-forming surface; and an ice barrier adjacent the liquid receptacle,the ice barrier movable between a first orientation in which liquidwater from the ice-forming surface is directed into the liquidreceptacle, and a second orientation in which ice from the ice-formingsurface is directed into the ice collection bin, the ice barrier beingconfigured to deflect the ice toward the ice collection bin as the icefalls from the ice-forming surface onto the barrier, the barrierblocking access of ice from the ice-forming surface to locations inwhich the ice can become lodged between the ice barrier and an adjacentsurface.
 23. The ice making apparatus of claim 22, wherein in the secondorientation, the ice barrier blocks access of ice from the ice-formingsurface to locations in which the ice can become lodged between the icebarrier and the liquid receptacle.
 24. The ice making apparatus of claim22, wherein the ice barrier is pivotable about an axis between the firstand second orientations.
 25. The ice making apparatus of claim 24,wherein the ice barrier has first and second portions extending indifferent directions radially from the axis.
 26. The ice makingapparatus of claim 25, wherein the first portion is a lever armcontacted by ice falling from the ice-forming surface to pivot the icebarrier between the first and second orientations.
 27. The ice makingapparatus of claim 25, wherein the second portion is a wall directingliquid water from the ice-forming surface toward the receptacle in thefirst orientation of the ice barrier, and blocking access of ice fromthe ice-forming surface to the locations when the ice barrier is in thesecond orientation.
 28. The ice making apparatus of claim 22, wherein: agap exists between the ice barrier and an adjacent surface of the icemaking apparatus in the first orientation of the ice barrier to permitwater flow into the receptacle; and the gap is substantially closed inthe second orientation of the ice barrier.
 29. The ice making apparatusof claim 22, wherein the liquid receptacle is at least partially definedby a liquid sump for recirculation of the liquid water.
 30. The icemaking apparatus of claim 24, wherein: the ice barrier has a portionextending radially from the axis and defining a lever arm acted upon byice from the ice-forming surface to pivot the ice barrier about theaxis; and the portion directs ice in a direction generally away from theliquid receptacle when the ice barrier is in the second orientation. 31.The ice making apparatus of claim 30, wherein the portion of the icebarrier has a convoluted surface.